Cricket

[Chris O'Connor]

A few indications on the likely test side

Going with three different spinners, leg spin, orthodox off spin and left arm looks certain, so Rashid, Ali and Leach all start

Broad is likely to lose out to the better batsman and left armer Sam Curran for the third seamers spot with Anderson and Stokes being the other two

Denly looks to have done enough in the warm ups to convince the selectors, who were going to pick him at 3, that it's best to change tack completely and just leave him out

Bruce French spent a long time with Ben Foakes and Jos Buttler today, so with Buttler unhappy with his own glove work and three spinners, there is a possibility Foakes will keep wicket

Root has said he wants to attack and be bold and adventurous so the possibility of the batsman Jos Buttler going in at three is also being thought about.

The weather is iffy for day one and some rain may mean the wicket not being as dry as expected so final decisions will be left until Tuesday morning

So a batting line up of....

Burns, Jennings, Buttler, Root, Stokes, Ali, Curran, Foakes, Rashid, Leach Anderson

.... is possible with another batter (Perhaps Pope) in place of Foakes if they decide on Buttler keeping wicket

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Update after today's practice....

The news is Foakes keeps and Ali at 3, Buttler at 5 and Foakes at 7

England may be fooled by the inclement weather to think the pitch may be slightly better for seamers, it would be a major mistake if so and Sri Lanka won't be, Dinesh Chandimal, their skipper, said he expected it to turn regardless and they'll be picking three spinners.

England likely line up in batting order

Burns, Jennings, Ali, Root, Buttler, Stokes, Foakes, Curran, Rashid, Leach, Anderson

 

[Mozza1987]

Just got some tickets for the Ashes at Old Trafford. Cant wait!

 

[summerisle]

Update after today's practice....

The news is Foakes keeps and Ali at 3, Buttler at 5 and Foakes at 7

England may be fooled by the inclement weather to think the pitch may be slightly better for seamers, it would be a major mistake if so and Sri Lanka won't be, Dinesh Chandimal, their skipper, said he expected it to turn regardless and they'll be picking three spinners.

England likely line up in batting order

Burns, Jennings, Ali, Root, Buttler, Stokes, Foakes, Curran, Rashid, Leach, Anderson

That top 3 looks like 33-3 to me. Good job the forecast for this week is for thunderstorms, and no lights in Galle.

 

[summerisle]

Currently 5-0.

 

[summerisle]

Here we go, 10-2, Burns out for 9, Moeen 0 first ball.

 

[Connor]

State of this.

 

[toffeejack]

A few indications on the likely test side

Going with three different spinners, leg spin, orthodox off spin and left arm looks certain, so Rashid, Ali and Leach all start

Broad is likely to lose out to the better batsman and left armer Sam Curran for the third seamers spot with Anderson and Stokes being the other two

Denly looks to have done enough in the warm ups to convince the selectors, who were going to pick him at 3, that it's best to change tack completely and just leave him out

Bruce French spent a long time with Ben Foakes and Jos Buttler today, so with Buttler unhappy with his own glove work and three spinners, there is a possibility Foakes will keep wicket

Root has said he wants to attack and be bold and adventurous so the possibility of the batsman Jos Buttler going in at three is also being thought about.

The weather is iffy for day one and some rain may mean the wicket not being as dry as expected so final decisions will be left until Tuesday morning

So a batting line up of....

Burns, Jennings, Buttler, Root, Stokes, Ali, Curran, Foakes, Rashid, Leach Anderson

.... is possible with another batter (Perhaps Pope) in place of Foakes if they decide on Buttler keeping wicket

Great call, I really wasn't expecting foakes to pay tbh. The preparations for test series these days are shocking though, who's decision is it to limit warm up matches?

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Good recovery and England will be pleased with that session of 86-1 after the five that fell this morning. As the ball has got softer batting has got easier, although Jennings showed it should have been much better this morning too.

Jennings, Root and Buttler didnt take it on but Foakes on debut has played sensibly and paced his innings at just the right tempo.

Its so often the story of England's recent batting history, opposition celebrations as England collapse early but the number 7 comes in and slowly but surely they turn it all around.

Not done but on their way and if they end up with anything competitive, it will be a good position with bowling last and well in the game.

As always, they could still fold for just over 200 but must hope for nearer 300.

 

[toffeejack]

always lose a wicket at the end of the day

 

[Eggs]

..bit of trivia, Foakes’ father was a Premier League referee. Probably never gave Everton a penalty.

 

[Harryflashman]

..bit of trivia, Foakes’ father was a Premier League referee. Probably never gave Everton a penalty.

Nice bit of trivia that . A quick google shows a couple of Everton wins that come up first including sending of sherwood at goodison and angering his Blackburn manager Dalglish.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

David Lloyd

"This has been the first time England have had a fifty partnership for the sixth, seventh and eighth wickets in the same innings in a test match in Asia on a Tuesday"

Classic

A nice late cameo from Leach too

Finished at 321-8, Foakes 87*, Leach 14*

(They were 103-5)

Got to say that reflects an excellent recovery from England, started by Jos Buttler then led by Ben Foakes with handy contributions from Curran, Rashid and even Leach at the very end.

I really hope Foakes gets the 13 more he needs, dropped on 60 when he ought to have been taken, but for the grit and determination shown he deserves the 3 figures - a proper test match knock.

It has been a better strip to bat on that we might've thought, but it's England's day in my view. Got to take runs on the board in the subcontinent

They have to look towards 350 and even possibly beyond now if Foakes can get his century and Jack Leach and the Burnley Lara can hang around and keep an end up. Get as many now as possible.

With bowling last on what could well be a wearing turner by then, this now has to be a strong position.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Interestingly the average score for a side batting second in a test in Galle is less than 220 (even on a Wednesday.

).

The odds now reflect the match situation, Sri Lanka started favourites but its all turned around completely

England best price 11/10, Sri Lanka 28/15, draw 10/3

 

[summerisle]

Liam Livingstone has resigned from the captaincy of Lancashire.